Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)

LASIK is a non-evasive procedure that can improve a person's vision within a matter of minutes. The first step of LASIK is the creation on the corneal flap. The surgeon will use a small tool known as a microkeratome or a laser to create the flap on the top of the cornea. Once the flap has been created it will be pulled back so that the laser can begin to reshape the underlying cornea. After the cornea has been reshaped the flap will be placed back into position.

The corneal flap acts as a natural bandage for the eye. No stitches are required during LASIK because the flap adheres on its own to the rest of the eye. Directly after surgery you should go home and sleep so that the healing can start. The healing process lasts about two weeks and you should avoid swimming and other rigorous activities that may disturb the healing process.

Your ophthalmologist will schedule various check-ups with you directly following the procedure. It is important that they monitor the healing process and the vision improvements over time. If your vision goal is not achieved after the procedure, enhancements can be performed to help you reach your ultimate vision goal.

LASIK vs. PRK

At Progressive Ophthalmology we understand the importance of clear vision and that no two patients are exactly alike.  With this in mind Dr. Michael Ahdoot is particular about choosing appropriate candidates and about customizing each patient's procedure to fit their specific visual and surgical needs.

During your screening process, Dr. Ahdoot will determine not only if you are a good candidate for Laser Vision Correction, but also which particular refractive surgery procedure - LASIK (Laser Assisted Insitu Keratamileusis) or PRK (Photo Refractive Keratectomy) is best suited for you.

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) was one of the first refractive surgeries to use a laser to correct a patient's eyesight. The PRK was thoroughly tested before it was extensively performed on patients after receiving approval from the FDA. PRK is available to some patients who are not strong candidate for LASIK.

During PRK an excimer laser is used to change and/or alter the shape of a patient's cornea. By changing or altering the shape of the cornea, rays of light will be able to better reach the retina. The laser uses cold light beams to remove cell tissues from the top of the cornea. The process of removing the cells is called ablation. The type of refractive error being corrected determines the amount of ablation needed.

The healing process for PRK takes longer than LASIK because the procedure is done entirely on the surface of the cornea. Typically, protective contact lenses are worn after surgery to protect the cornea during the healing time. PRK is a procedure that can help improve vision for candidates who are not strong candidates for other laser vision correction procedures.

Some of the deciding factors between choosing LASIK or PRK may include corneal thickness or whether a patient prefers a less invasive procedure or one which offers speedier recovery.  Both procedures involve the same laser application to reshape the cornea. However the initial portions of the procedure dealing with flap creation as in LASIK versus removal of epithelium ("corneal skin") as in PRK differ.  Both LASIK and PRK have been proven to offer the same fantastic, life-changing visual results with virtually no discomfort during the procedure.

Are You A Candidate?

If you are seeking LASIK in the New York Metro area, you have come to the right place! For excellence in eye care and the latest in ophthalmic technology Progressive Ophthalmology is a step above the competition. We understand that you have many options for LASIK eye surgery in New York and we are pleased that you are at our website. Determining your LASIK candidacy is vital to the actual LASIK eye surgery process. If you have any immediate questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Not everyone is a candidate for LASIK. Each individual person has unique eyes. Just like with a Fingerprint or DNA sample, no two cornea maps are the same. This is why a pre-operative exam is vital. Before LASIK is performed you will be required to undergo a series of diagnostic tests to determine the stability of your vision. After a thorough evaluation of your eyes, Dr. Michael Ahdoot will be able to determine if you are a candidate. This thorough diagnostic evaluation is the first step in tailoring your best possible visual outcome or personal best vision.

Expectations For LASIK Eye Surgery

Your decision to have LASIK laser vision correction is a serious decision. Ultimately, you will be the one to make the final decision. When electing a LASIK surgeon it is important to select a surgeon that can honestly explain your visual needs. The ultimate goal of LASIK is to reduce your dependence on glasses and contact lenses. LASIK does not always create perfect 20/20 vision, though most cases are successful in improving vision. In 98% of LASIK cases the visual outcome is 20/40 or better - the vision necessary to drive without spectacle or contact lens correction in New York State. Your ophthalmologist will discuss realistic visual expectations with you during the work up examinations.

Our Technology

Allegretto Wave Laser

Laser vision correction procedures differ in a number of ways, but conventional treatments use the same formula to treat every person with the same optical prescription.

The Allegretto Wave, however, was conceived from the start to perform custom treatments and incorporates wavefront technology principles into each procedure while adjusting each treatment to the patient's individual cornea.

In addition, the Allegretto Wave is the fastest laser system available in the U.S. today, and allows the surgeon to finely sculpt the patient's new vision with precision. This laser also features an ultra-fast eye-tracking system to follow eye movement during the procedure.

This high-speed tracker is a key component of the system's unique PerfectPulse Technology™, developed to accurately control the energy level and exact placement of every laser pulse. Understanding that all eyes are not the same, the Allegretto Wave takes into consideration each patient's individual corneal steepness and automatically compensates for laser energy that can be lost in the periphery of the cornea due to the eye's natural shape. By doing so, the Allegretto Wave specifically addresses spherical aberrations that can potentially cause glare and may distort night vision.

More about the Allegretto Wave:

• In FDA trials, 93 percent of all patients saw as well or better without glasses after treatment than they did with glasses prior to treatment.
• More than 50 percent achieved 20/16 vision or better.
• Fewer than 5 percent needed an enhancement later.
• The Allegretto Wave was granted clearance for the widest approval range ever initially granted to a new laser system.

Allegretto Wavefront

One of the most innovative features of the ALLEGRETTO WAVE is the way it uses wavefront-optimized technology to automatically compensate for the curvature of the cornea. In earlier laser correction systems, the "optical zone" or area of correction, was centered on the front of the cornea; the result was a flattened circular area that ended with an abrupt edge, causing unwanted side effects like poor night vision, glare, and halos.

ALLEGRETTO WAVE changes all that. The ALLEGRETTO WAVE sends extra pulses to the peripheral cornea area in order to compensate for the angle of the laser beam. In this manner, the aspherical shape of the cornea is preserved to a degree that older lasers simply could not achieve. This compensation, combined with the incredibly small, 1mm size of the laser, produces a smooth, effective optical zone that results in what can only be described as high performance vision.

PerfectPulse Technology

PerfectPulse Technology™ represents a new approach to laser vision correction - it accounts for speed, precision, and safety in the ALLEGRETTO WAVE laser and offers improvements that are revolutionary in the field. Smart energy control measures and adjusts energy levels in the laser pulse from creation to delivery. High-speed eye tracking charts the eye's movement 200 times per second. As a result, every laser pulse is completely controlled and accurate, achieving the most accurate level of correction possible. You have peace of mind that the amount of energy in the laser has been calibrated to exactly the proper level. After the beam has been created, it passes through three checkpoints on its way to your eye. At each of these points, the energy level is checked and adjusted if necessary, ensuring that the beam is perfectly attuned at its destination.

ALLEGRETTO WAVE's laser is essentially a precise, controlled beam of energy. The laser employs a proprietary overlapping method to ensure accurate laser placement, and is one of the ways that ALLEGRETTO WAVE achieves a rounder, more natural corneal surface than many other lasers used for vision correction.

Due to the remarkable speed of both the eye and the ALLEGRETTO WAVE procedure, the laser beam needs to be constantly and minutely adjusted to the position of the eye at any given time. Every 4-6 milliseconds, the eye's location is measured and the internal mirrors of the ALLEGRETTO WAVE are automatically aligned. Just before the pulse is released, a second check is made to confirm that the eye has not moved. This happens 200 times every second, once for every laser pulse. If, at any time, the eye moves too quickly to be measured or moves out of range, the laser will stop and wait for the eye to move back into position.

Currently, the ALLEGRETTO WAVE is the fastest vision correction laser for LASIK available in the United States. At 200 laser bursts per second, it only takes about four seconds of treatment to correct one diopter. Of course, spending less time under the laser means less stress and discomfort for the patient.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: "Are laser vision correction procedures covered by insurance?"

A: Although few policies cover Laser Vision Correction, we would be happy to check yours when you come in for a consult. Remember patient financing plans are available.

Q: "Is there any pain involved with LASIK?"

A: Patients tell us they feel only slight discomfort, not pain during the procedure. After the procedure, most people report a slightly irritated eye for a few hours, similar to an eyelash in your eye. But pain is subjective, and when you learn more about the procedure you'll form your own opinion of what to expect.

Q: "Has anyone ever gone blind form a Laser Vision Correction Procedure?"

A: There have been zero reported cases of total loss of vision.

Q: "Are there any side effects with Laser Vision Correction?"

A: As with any type of surgery, side effects and complications can occur. All potential side effects and complications will be discussed further at the time of the Laser Vision Correction consultation.

Q: "Why not go to a discount Laser Vision Correction center?"

A: When considering laser vision correction, advanced technology, safety, patient outcomes, personal attention and patient satisfaction should be the deciding factor behind the ophthalmologist you choose, not cost.

Q: "Is Laser Vision Correction for everyone?"

A: Laser Vision Correction is not necessarily for everyone. The best way to determine your candidacy is with a proper screening and thorough evaluation.

Q: "I am very busy at work. What type of time commitment is needed to have LASIK?"

A: This is a state-of-the-art procedure, which requires minimal time for the patient. The actual procedure lasts under 10 minutes per eye. Most patients can go back to work the very next day.